A cyclone reactor of electrochemical advanced oxidation processes using PbO₂ anode and H₂O₂ electrosynthesis cathode

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes are promising tools for pollution abatement but most still lack practical engineering attempts and devices. A type of process intensification reactor for the electrochemical advanced oxidation processes is developed here. The cyclone continuous flow electrochemical reactor adopts a PbO₂ anode and H₂O₂ electrosynthesis cathode together. A lab-scale cyclone continuous flow electrochemical reactor is fabricated and simulated, which is evaluated using the H-acid wastewater. The contributions of the PbO₂ anode and H₂O₂ electrosynthesis cathode to pollutant degradation are discussed particularly. A 3-D model is developed to provide a visualized perspective on the reactor performances, including flow distribution, mass transfer, and current distribution. Pronounced signals of powerful radicals can be detected for the PbO₂H₂O₂ cyclone reactor, including •OH, SO₄^•-, and ¹O₂. It exhibits excellent performances on mass transfer, electrical properties, organic degradation, and space-time yield. Such a strategy presents a promising engineering solution for scale-up and further development toward industrial application.